[SOLVED] FRIENDLY URL: How to customize them?

[rv01]

Hi,

the fiendly url generation includes the category name in each product "friendly url".

Where can I customize that, i.e. just having the product name in the generated url?

Thanks
naturelore.com

[rocky]

There is no way to change the format of friendly URLs without modifying code, so I don't think it is a good idea to do it unless it is really necessary. If it is, you can change line 45 of classes/Link.php from:

return ($this->allow == 1)?(_PS_BASE_URL_.__PS_BASE_URI__.$lang_link.(($id_product->category != 'home' AND !empty($id_product->category)) ? $id_product->category.'/' : '').intval($id_product->id).'-'.$id_product->link_rewrite.($id_product->ean13 ? '-'.$id_product->ean13 : '').'.html') :

to:

return ($this->allow == 1)?(_PS_BASE_URL_.__PS_BASE_URI__.$lang_link/*.(($id_product->category != 'home' AND !empty($id_product->category)) ? $id_product->category.'/' : '')*/.intval($id_product->id).'-'.$id_product->link_rewrite.($id_product->ean13 ? '-'.$id_product->ean13 : '').'.html') :

and line 48 from:

return ($this->allow == 1)?(_PS_BASE_URL_.__PS_BASE_URI__.$lang_link.(($category AND $category != 'home') ? ($category.'/') : '').intval($id_product).'-'.$alias.($ean13 ? '-'.$ean13 : '').'.html') :

to:

return ($this->allow == 1)?(_PS_BASE_URL_.__PS_BASE_URI__.$lang_link/*.(($category AND $category != 'home') ? ($category.'/') : '')*/.intval($id_product).'-'.$alias.($ean13 ? '-'.$ean13 : '').'.html') :

[tomerg3]

If you make they default category "Home" the URL will not include a category name.

It's generally better to have more keywords in the URL, and having the category name in there can only help...

[rv01]

Thanks for the modification.
I want that because having the categories in the products URL is considered as OVER optimization (SEO).
tbd

[Mallee Boy]

I see two differing opinions in the comments above. I have a question. Does it make any real difference to google and your keywords whether you use the home category or a sub category in your url?

For example:

http://www.gamesfromeverywhere.com.au/chess-sets/232-chess-set-polish-kings.html

and

http://www.gamesfromeverywhere.com.au/232-chess-set-polish-kings.html

Thanks.

[tomerg3]

From my experience, keywords in the URL help with SEO, so having the category name there will help.

[rv01]

Gathered from many sources this is the summary for URL:

Keyword should be in URL, first place (so category or product number IS a nuisance!)
Keep it short, less than 50 char
Use hyphens to separate words
Use 2 or 3 hyphens
4 or more hyphens is bad.

So, again I say that putting the category number as the first word in the URLs is bad,
same when Prestashop puts the product number first,
because you should put the product name (= keyword) first.

Cheers

[Mallee Boy]

rv01,

Is there a way to make this happen without affecting the structure of your site? Is it possible to have product numbers at the end?

[rv01]

Hi David,
I think you have to change the file ".htaccess" and re-order the URL rewriting rules lines.
I'll try on my local test instance of the shop to see if it's enough.

I would like a comment from a Prestashop specialist/moderator.

There are so many things "they" should put in the BO parameters to avoid us to change the code.
Even this forum text message editor looks quite old fashioned, is bugged and not user friendly,
and have strange behavior. (Beside, the forum is an absolute must).

Cheers,
Rene

[Mallee Boy]

Thanks Rene. I look forward to your reply.

[rv01]

Hi David,
I removed the product id number in classes/link.php , URL building is OK but then the page is not found anymore.
It would be nice to put (in the URL construction) the product name before the product number,
but I don't know how to achieve this.
Can you try with a new post to ask specifically this?
Cheers

PS: removing the category worked well as explained here above.

[Mallee Boy]

Thanks Renee. Getting advice on what google likes nd does not like is often difficult given the conflicting opinions across the web.

[rocky]

See my post here.